Geology Years
Whitman College
I studied geology and economics, learning how to think analytically, structurally, and in layers.
Founding Member of Truegility · Builder of Clarity · Technologist by way of geology
Ola! I'm John. I started as a geologist and became a technologist.
Somewhere between studying rocks and running data platforms, I discovered that what I really love is helping people make sense of complex things. Layered sediment or layered data: same instinct, different tools.
Today I'm one of the founding members of Truegility, where we build Clarity, a data platform that helps PE-backed companies turn messy financial data into confident decisions. Getting here took a few interesting turns.
Quick Facts About Me
- Studied Economics and Geology at Whitman College
- Spent 20+ years in technology, leading teams at Microsoft, ADP, and Launch Consulting Group
- Led 70+ managers and engineers at Microsoft on high-stakes data projects where accuracy was everything
- Early adopter of emerging technology and an enthusiastic builder of new systems
- Live in Kirkland, WA and still get excited about new technology everyday
About
From Rocks to Records
I went to Whitman College to study the earth, and after graduating I spent three years as a Senior Staff Geologist. Those years in the field taught me something that stuck: complex systems have patterns. You just have to know where to look and how to read the layers. But by the late 1990s, the internet was exploding, and I decided to go all in on tech.
I also studied economics, which planted a different seed. I learned how businesses work, how decisions get made, and how data drives both.
Over time, web development, network analysis, startup business development, and large-scale enterprise data work all pointed me toward the same idea: companies struggle when their data is disconnected from their decisions.
That is the thread that led to Truegility and to Clarity.
I believe data should serve people, not the other way around. Too many organizations are held hostage by their own information, trapped in manual processes, buried in spreadsheets, and making decisions based on gut feel when they should have clarity.
My Journey
The path from geology to data platforms
Early 2000s
Discovering Tech
Hands-on work in web development, network analysis, and business development showed me how technical systems and business outcomes could reinforce each other.
2000s–2010s
The Big Company Years
I joined ADP, then moved to Microsoft, eventually leading large teams on mission-critical data projects. Later work at Launch Consulting Group reinforced the same lesson: organizations need connected data to make better decisions.
2023
Founding Truegility
After seeing mid-market PE-backed companies drown in spreadsheets and disconnected systems, I joined the team at Truegility as one of our founders and helped build Clarity to connect master data, financial reporting, and decision-ready insight.
Today
Helping People Stop Guessing
I work with CFOs, operating partners, and technology leaders who want to stop guessing and start knowing.
20+
Years in technology
70+
Managers and engineers led at Microsoft
“John's superpower is program management and empowering teams to deliver results. His optimism, good humor, and ability to conjure fun out of thin air make him a true force multiplier.”
Let's Connect
If you're building around messy data and important decisions, we should talk.
Reach out on LinkedIn, visit Truegility, or send a note directly through the contact form.